Locking device



M. RIGAUD LOCKING DEVICE Filed Dec. '21, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORATTORNEY5 M. RIGAUD July 5, 1960 LOCKING DEVICE Filed Dec. 21, 1956 4Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS July 5, 1960 Filed Dec. 21, 1956 M. RIGAUD2,943,878

LOCKING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR ATTORNEYS July 5, 1960 I r 4Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 21, 1956 ATTORNEYS 2,943,878 I LOCKING DEVICEMaurice Rigaud, Paris, France, assignor to Societe (lee AgrafesFrancaises & dArticles Metalliques (Societ'e Anonyme), Paris, France, aFrench company Filed Dec. 21, 1956, Ser. No. 629,942 Claimspriority,.application France December 21,1955 1 16 Claims. ((31. 292-44United States atetit ice 2,943,878 Patented July 5, 196

- to bring the stop or blocking catch into locking postion ner that ifthe locking device is blocked while the door tain amount of force on astud or pin carried by the other A of said members, when said jaws comeinto contact with said stud or pin; and which further include latchingmeans for maintaining the said jaws blocked in gripping position withrespect to said stud or pin.

. In a known device of this type, the jaws are connected with each otherby a sort of gearing arrangement which forces them to move in unisonabout their pivots, and when they are closed upon the pin, the blockingof the jaws is assured by a sliding element which under the pressure ofa spring is engaged between rearward extensions provided on the jaws.

The present invention, in its preferred embodiments, contemplates theprovision of a locking mechanism of the class described, which has theadvantage over known devices, first, of being of simpler constructionwhile providing maximum security, and second, of making it possible tocompensate for play or lost-motion due to wear of the various parts incourse of time. 1

In the device which is the subject of the present invention, the twojaws, pivoted freely on the lock casing; are adapted to be blocked, whenclosed upon the stud or pin, by means of 'a, lever, also freely pivotedon the casing, which 'is interposed in tront of an extension on at leastone of the jaws.

f 'The lever member and the jaw member whichit iinmediately controls,come into contact through the mutual engagement of surfaces on therespective members, one of. which surfaces is inclined .with respect tothe other,

whereby compensation for wear is assured. I

The lever also presents the furtheradvantage of being I is open, thisblocking is automatically eliminated upon the closing of the door, whichfeature prevents the operator from locking his car unintentionally.

1 Other objects and features of novelty will be apparent from thefollowing specification when read in connection with the accompanyingdrawings in whichone embodiment of the invention is illustrated merelyby way of example. l

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a'locking device embodying the principles of,the invention;

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation of the same device; a

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view similar to Figure l but with the jaws inopen position;

Figure 4 is a somewhat diagrammatic plan view similar to Figure 1 butillustrating a modified form of lock exemplifying the principles of thepresent invention, the parts being in lock-closing position;

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic sectional view taken substantially on lineIIII of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken approximately on lineIIIHI of Figure 4;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substani tially on lineIV-IV of Figure 4;

Figure 8 is a somewhat diagrammatic view in side elevation as seen inthe direction of the arrow F in Figure 4;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary plan view showing certain blocking features inclosed or locked position;

Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 9 showing the same parts with thelocking device blocked but the lock in open position;

Figure 11 is a view similar to Figure 4 but showing the locking devicein open or unlocked postion;

Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure 11 but illustrating a stillfurther modification of the invention;

Figure 13 is a view similar to Figure 12 with the parts in. openposition; and V p Figure 14 is a sectional view taken substantially online VV of Figure12.

provided, upon its surface which is intended to cooper ate ,with. thejaw extension, with a step or notch which affords a safety position ofthe lock. The lever is pretei'ably arranged so that it may be actuatedorcontrolled either. from the inside or the outside, in accordance withthe nature at the door or otherclosure member with which the lockingdevice is associated; and remote control of the lock may even beprovidedtor.

Further objects of the invention includethe provision of novel blockingmechanism for the basic locking de- 'vic'e described which will preventthe opening of the lock undercertain conditions, suchblocking being ofparticu lar interest when the locking device is applied to closures prautomobile vehicles. In accordance with this particular object,- theblocking. mechanism comprises a stop or catch which is' adapted to beinterposed in the path of the locking l'e'ver so as to prevent saidlever from locking the jaw with which itcooperates.

' s stop or catch is advantageously associated with a 'inember whichserves for opening the locking device from "the inside of the vehicle;the said member being" adapted In the embodiment of the inventionillustrated in Figures 1-3 of the drawings, the lock comprises a baseplate or support 1 whichmay form a part of the lock casing,

: said base'plate having a slightly rounded-notch 2 which is adapted toreceive the stud or pin 3, which stud is preferably cylindrical inconfiguration. 7

Due to'its rounded form, notch 2 forms a tapering or wedge entry for thepin in the usual way.

Two jaw elements 6 and 7, each of which is formed with a notch 8 adaptedto cooperate with the stud 3, are movably mounted on each side of theslot or notch 2, on pivot pins or axles 4 and 5. Jaw elements 6 and 7are connected rearwardly of their pivots 4 and 5 by a tension spring 9which serves to urge the gripping or looking portions of the jaws towardopen position as .shown in Figure 3. Stops 9a are provided to limit theopening movement of the jaw elements. Each of the jaw elements also hasa rearward non gripping or nonlocking extension 6a and 7a upon thelatter side of the pivots.

Adjacent the rearward extension or non-gripping arm 7a of the jawelement 7, there is disposed one end of a lever member 10 (Figure 1)this end portion terminatdined suifacezlllhw sa-ijd lever being soarranged that'the ppe not h a andthe slop ng or tillfilillcdwedgingsurface 10b can be brought into the path of the edge 7b of the;non-gripping arm or extension 7a during'rnoveme ts of the correspondingjaw element 7. a V

Lever .10 its subjectedito 'the'action er :the spring '11' which isretained by means ofthegstud 111a, this spring tending to urge themseioftheile'ver ltl'toward-the arm orextension 7a. When the-jaw elements areopen as 7 shown in Figure 3, :the nose of the lever 10 presses againstthe texti'emefend'snrfaceof the arm or extension 7a. r r

The lever pivotedon the projection or studflfl' V and has anextendingarm 12 which carries a blade or flange liagain'st :whicha .push rodorother lock actuat ing member (not shown) may press (asindicated by; thearrowf ire-Figure '11). This makes it possible to op erate'the lock froma point exterior of the loek -casin'g.

The operating lever 10 also has a rectilinear 31111 14 whiehiproiectsinto the of the lowerfiarrn lfiaof an L-shaped lever 15. This lever' 15isarticulated to ahauge 11a ion; the base plate' l by means of the pivotrnernbe r 16 and suitable connections may be 'made with theother:afmflslrof the lever 15 for actuating the'llock from a remote point.

i'fIhe'i operation of the lock device 'illustrated in Figs. 7

I 171- 3,ificlusivegisas followszj r-Let us' suppose that pin orstud 3is fixed to a stationary member suchas a door jamb,;and the lock de viceproper-is "installed-upon} door. I Then if the door is closed with acertain amou t" of force, the striking of the pin on thehee'l' portions8a of the notches 8 (Figure 7 3) forces the jawelements to close on thestudlor pin 3; 'While theyfare closingg the end face of extension 7aslides along the end portion of lever "10 and the edge 7blat'firstcatches on-the stepped notch me. If the shock of blosin g' is'sufficient', this edge reaches beyond the V stepped notch and is caughton the inclined or sloping wedge like su f ace 10b bfthe lever. Theangle of this sloping surface isso chosen with respect to the jawelement'that the jaws are held in firm position about the v stud or pinat all times regardless of the tendency of the wear on the parts toproduce lost motion or play.

2 To open-the locking deviee'itis' sufiicient to pivot the lever 10ro'umrns eitherby acting upont he blade 13, or by means of the'hapdle'lever :15 which engages arm 14 ofthe lever l0- The Jew elements arethen freed and they open under the aetio'n of thespring 9. The openingmovement is accompanied by areaction a of the 'nose or heel portions 8aupon the stud Bfwhich reaction causes the'door to beginjits openingmovement;

"In the embodiment shownt in Figures 42- l1 inclusive of the'drawingsfthere can be recognized :the principal f mernbersof thelocking cleviee described in Figures'ilii and these correspondingmembers are given the same refa j I erence numeral- With'a'pritne added.I

In order to save space thejaws 6' a d7 arehoused being t so s to slideagainstthe plateitsellf (F gure 'Ih lockiugle er 1h has-an ex en ion 1 iu i4 d 8) preferably pr duced by "bending .ba kaf-p t n of-th par hi hconstitutes. th b dy o e lever, whiehIextension or flangellterminates'in;a 'nose 422 which is curved toward the outside with respect 'to theblockingedge 19b of the-lever.

The opening of this embodiment of the locking device cancbe efiected onthe onehan'd 'by direetly pressing-upon the handle or abutment flange13' of the lever 19?, gel

erally from the outside when the locking device'is mount ed on the doorof -a vehicle, and on the other hand, by

means of a lpluralparmed lever 23 pivoted at 24 to the base plate,one'arrn 23a of which is curved with the end gamers V I r 4 a a 1 7adapted to press against the extension flangezl "ofthe 1ever 10'. V

This lever 23 is has an arm'25a which cooperates with the arm'23b of theleverr23. A handle or connecting portion 250 may be applied to thepperatinggarmjpj the lever 25. This.

" lever system serves f or the controlr of the loclg fromthe insidewhenthe device is used iirconneetion-with a to-z m' i v hicle d o s r r c 1I The blocking of the'locking arrangement is elfecte'dby means of astopP 0iection2'6, theendofwhich is curved toward the interior .ofi thelocking device, this stop 2. 6 bein'g'carried'by an'arrn 2300f the'lever23;"in'such a way that it can be interposed inthe-path of the nosejz z'of the lever 10' so as to prevent the lever from beingturnedsufficiently to release the jaw 7' and thus efie'ct, thee ening ottneiaws; Aspring catch element 2 7700- 4 opera-ting with the'notches28g: and 28b :prfovide'd 'inthe section23b-of .the leve'rfiflrnakes itpossible t'ernpoi arily to immobiliie the leve'rla ei-flier *in theblocked position or in the positiori fin which the locking-device is notblocked; a, a r w Thelever 23' can beib'rou-ght into blockingpositionaby the action of a'narm 25bf6ftheleverf 25'1-whieh r sses 7against the opposite side of the- 'a'rm 235 (Figure 7)"? 7 3.operation"of--th'e mechanism shown in Fig'u-res 4-l1 inclusive maybedescribed-as follows. l

i A s-manipulat'edffrorn theinsiderof thedoor, the stop 26 isbroughtinto blocking position by=the operator'movw in'g lever 25311 thedirection of the arrow f Figure 7,; which is the opposite directionfroin that required 'to open'the device. The spring 25- fthen; engages"in the notch 'ZSa-a-nd the 23c with its catch orblocking element 26occupies the position=shown-in=Figures 9 andlO. 'If it' b'e -assurrr'edthat the ia'ws are at'tha-t time closed on the lock-pin orstud 3 andblocked by the lever 10" (as a in Figure 9-), any action from theoutside (to the left in Figures 4-and 1 1 'on-the'lever will-cause thenose'22 to engage beneath-the stop 26 (Figure 9) and the section 10b ofthe lever 10' earlnot releasethe extensionfld of a the jaw 7. Thelocking device can therefore not'be opened from-the outside bydirectmanipulation of the levee-10';

- If the operator presses'even'lightlyvupon theiIever'ZS V I in theppeningdircction (arrow'jf inEigure 7) the arm 25a exerts apivotal forceon the'lever' 23 so as 'to -briug; V

the stop 26' outside of the path offthe nose 22; the spring catch z l'being then engaged in the notc h flllb; Th'u s'the locking deviceisunblocke'd. E.;' By 0ntmum' 7' sum p ssure an er-me lever-r10 is thejaws. v -liit is theill ri ik l device with respectltioithenose z lofwhich lever is "resting-- against the end of the ri t flaws 9 p ft ip nbu min extension 114! 'movesaway from'inffront'bf thelever lofand the 'spll urges the lever inthedirection toward the jaws. Z iu b'; @*p; f '.1 ht enseleq ed o t lft n't spr ugj atch 1 a soc a ed wi h enthe. e vzencqun e 's t eiston' 2'6 and m it obliguely it pushes 'thejstopjqaclr;which '0 In the embodiment illiistratedkiu rignes 14.244 in:

1'c1u iv ,,-;there are incorporat d at l ast twd advantageouslmodifications over those already described in'connection I l 7controlled and actuated a forked a second lever 25'pivoted on an angleor flange portion 7 1 i V 1a" of the plate 1' (Figure 7) which for thispurpose on '14 ofthe'jaw I; Thenf when the do orfis'closeg with theearlier figures. One of these is the provision oftwo .blocking portionson'the principal'lever, and the other relates to a certain flexibilityprovided by making the blocking arm 23:: of thelever 23 in two partsoperatively associated by meansof a spring.

The basic elements of this embodiment of the lock have been givensimilar reference numerals to those shown inFigures 4-11 of thedrawings, while the. departures from the earlier described structureareldesignatedgby new reference characters. 7

In Figures 12 and 13 it will be readily seen that there is provided aprojecting abutment 35 on the inner side of the jaw controlling arm ofthe lever and this projection when the device is in locked position,comes into wedging abutment contact with the short-shankportion 6a ofthe jaw 6'. Thus it will be seen that the. jaw. 6 is efiectively blockedat the same time that the wedging surface 10b at the extreme end ofthe'lever 10' is blocking the extension'7a' of the jaw 7'.

In this embodiment, the arm of the lever 23 which was designated 23c inthe previously described embodiment is now cut short and indicated at23c, and provided with a depending finger or abutment 40, and theblocking element 26 is carried by a separate lever 42 which has anupstanding flange 44 at the extremity of which the stop 26 is formed. Aspring 45 is carried by a block 46 secured to the plate 1' and thespring loop passes through an eye 47 formed on the block 46 while theend 48 of the spring abuts a projection 49 on the block 46. Theoperative arm 50 of the spring presses against the flange 44 of thelever 42 and urges it in a direction toward the abutment finger 40 ofthe stub lever 23c. If desired, this embodiment can be provided with akey control to be manipulated from outside of the closure.

For example any sort of keying element such as a pin 51 may be insertedthrough an opening 52 in the flange 44 and the arm 42 with the blockingelement 26 brought into and out of blocking position with respect to theprojection 22' either in conjunction with the operating lever 23, orindependently thereof as permitted by the spring 45.

It is understood that modifications and changes may be made in theembodiments of the invention herein dearm of said second scribed, forexample, by the substitution of patentable equivalents, withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention, which is determinedby the subjoined claims. Having thus described the invention, what isclaimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is: 1. Alocking device for use in cooperation with a stud with which it isadapted to corne into locking engagement, said device'comprising, incombination, a supporting base member, a pair of oppositely disposed jawelements pivotally mounted on said base member and having opposedlocking arms adapted to move toward each other to lock such a studtherebetween and at least one of said jaws having oppositely extendingnon-locking arms arranged to move in the opposite direction as itscorresponding locking arm moves toward the other, means coacting betweensaid jaw elements yieldably urging said locking arms apart, a leverhaving a blocking arm with a blocking portion rigidly associated withthe free end of the blocking arm, means for pivotally mounting saidlever directly on the said supporting base member, said lever beingpivotable to a blocking position in which said blocking portion extendsinto engagement with an integral part of the non-locking arm of one ofsaid jaw elements to prevent the locking arm of the latter jaw elementfrom disengaging the stud, and means effective continuously upon saidlever tending to pivot the latter toward its said blocking position, anda lever-blocking device, including a stop element and means forinterposing saidstop element in the path of said blocking lever was toprevent said lever from unlocking the jaw element with which itcooperates.

2. A locking device for use in cooperation with a stud with which it isadapted 'to' 'eonieintoflocking engage; ment, said device comprising, incombination, a support'- ing base member, a pair'of oppositely disposedjaw elecorresponding locking armjmoves'toward the other, means coactingbetween said jaw elements yieldably urging said locking arms apart, alever'lia'ving a blocking arm with a blocking portion rigidly associatedwiththe free end:

of the blocking arm, meansfor pivotallymounting saidj lever directly onthe said supporting basemember, said lever being pivotable to a blockingposition in which said blockin g jportionextends into engagementwithfan' in tegral part'of the non-locking arm of'one of said jawelements to prevent the locking arm'fof. the latt'erjjaw element fromdisengagingjthe stud, and means effective continuously upon said levertending to pivot the "latter toward its said' blocking position, andasecond lever pivotallymounted 'on' said bas'e member, said second namedlejver having "an arm whichis adapted to contact; and fmove said firstnamed blocking lever toward jaw unlocking position, a blocking devicefor said jaw-blocking lever, said blocking device including a stopelement, means operatively connecting said stop element with said secondnamed lever so as to'be interposed in the path of said first namedblocking lever to prevent the blocking lever from unlocking the jawelements, with which it coe operates.

3. The locking device as set forth in claim 2 inwhich' said stopelementjis operatively connected witha second Qn-amed lever and adaptedto be brought into blocking position upon movement 'of'ifsaid secondnamed lever in a direction opposite to that in which it moves to causeits first named arm to operate the jaw-blocking lever to unlockingposition.

4; The locking device as set forth in claim 3 in which a third arm isprovided on said second named lever, and means are provided for actingupon said third arm to move said lever in opposite'directions, and meansfor retaining it in either position into which it is moved.

5. The locking device asset forth in claim 3 in which there is provideda third lever having a bifurcatedportion adapted to straddlethe thirdarm of saidsecond named lever and to contact andmove said second namedlever in opposite directions to respectively lock and unlockthelockingdevice, j' 6. The locking device as's'et forth inclaim 3 in whichsaid stop element is carried on a supplementallever,hav

. ing-a common pivot with saidsecond named 1ever, ai1

abutment on said second named lever" for contacting said i supplementallever, a spring for'urging said'supplemental lever to contact with saidabutment so that the supple' mental lever will move coincidentallywith'said second named lever, but upon yielding of said spring thesupplemental lever and its associated stop element may moveindependently of said second named lever.

7. The locking device as set forth in claim 6 in which key means areprovided for moving said supplemental lever and said stop element tounlock the jaw blocking lever, said key means adapted to be actuatedfrom outside the closure control by said locking device.

8. The locking device as set forth in claim 2 in which the jaw blockinglever is provided with an angled projection and the lever-blocking stopelement is also angled whereby both of these parts are provided withoblique surfaces and when said parts come into blocking contact with thestop element positioned behind the lever projection, they engage toprevent relative movement, but whenever the stopelement is in front ofthe lever projection, as when the stop element has been brought intoblocking position while the blocking lever is in lock-open position, themovement of the lever projection toward mp: the

. v d elements yieldably, urging slait rleckings. arms look ng "arm witha hlOQKiflQ'PfiF ta ly; ql ntii g said letter directly on.

h shsaid'blocking poit i Ident fiers it means for pi o a y Tmbl n ng 7said :rlever' 'on' .11 5,

'lnember'i being l ed laterally beyon said j elem nts saidjaw arms andbeing providedwith a hooked arm, 7 person's/men extends aroiind the, endof the non-lockingwnh'me nee fend lot the blocking" 7 same ber fisaidleverbeingnivot- V hooked lendoi' '25 saidlever extending transverselyof the general extent of! jaw arrnwith which it co pe a e and; when .inoperative loekingfno ifiqn, engagesan inner side-oi thej nd .of Said la's t' named jaw arm and extends between the two. none locking jaw arms:7

Th locking devicei'as set forth in claiin 9 in which rev has a-is eond'garm "eiifen ting in, the a posite direction pmsaid hooked armeportion;and thus in substaiitial alignment therewith;-.a'nd provided with .anabun rnent'portion adapted to be acted upon by operating means i forsaid lock.

11. 'The locking trance asset roan in name in which said lever isprovided with a third armrextending l substantially perpendicularly withrespect to Said aligned airnisenda second lever is'pivoted to :21 porton of said b e member and adapted to beswnng to cont'ac said thirdanm ndmove the first namediever, an rneans are provided ,for, actuating saidsecond lever from a remote point- To 7 a 1.2. l cking ,deviee as' setforth in elaimlli in which said sec nd rleileris angular and is pivotedat its angle portion for swinging movement ina plane at right angles tothe @Iane ofsaid first named lever and the lockinsi wsand oneflarm ofsaid 's'eeondnamed lever is adapted to abut, the third ann bf aid'fiIStIfiamed lever inforgter to meveyit, nd said remote actuating meansis connected withgthe seeondjangular nntof'saidnse'eond named lever.

i the hooked end of ,saidlever .isbwvi ded-withvasste l V merit,saiddei/ice 'conipn 13-. a The leakin notch v,oition whiefiattor'ds enru t pennant- 1 sic "on whiclif'w'eidging ly engages the. said it at anngle; Eto a'ppl'y' locking @reSsn Q 33011.2 [to thejaw' withoutplayr'egardlessiof wear; L,

7 "I51 'Theioeki'ng device as set forthiii.c1ai1i1' .9 in w tintrthgofli n which afiords mtermedr te .lsafe-fioek ng; 1 positioniand alsoaminelinedportionlheyond said notch l 7 portion whichwedgingly...engagesthe said nonobkingl at angle to ap'piyf lpeking rpressnirethrough said arm to the jaw withoutbl ayi regardlessnf wear.

Q16 .A locking device iorinseiinsooneration witha-stnd i s adapted i ngb e-member, va pai'lyof oppositely disposed j r ele- I ents piyotallyrnonnted on said base member and hail ihg l onposed loekingarms adaptedtornove ltq aeaie cn" other to look suenra stud therehetweenopposedrnqnf loeking v-arms arranged to moi/e apart as Sa1 arms move:towardeach other rneans enacting said jaw elements yxelda'oly nrgingi"said apart, a lever having a blocking arm with two snrfaces thereon,means for piyotally mounting saicl vleven; directly upon thesaid,supportingbase member, said layer being pivotable to a bloeking positionin which. both of j said blocking portions extend-between saidnon-locking arms-of the jaws, one of said portionsmoving intoenagagernent with an inward pert of the non-looking armxof, one of saidjawfelements and the other of'said portions extending into engagementwith the inward pait ofrt he non-locking arm of the other of said jawelementstoPre; vent the locking arms of thejaw elements from disengagingthe stud, and means efiective eontinuonslyrnpon said lever to urge thelatter pivotally toward itsjaw bloc k ing I position.

References Cited in the tile of this patent r,

UNITED STATES PATENTS i .1 Mar. 21; 1899' in ,9 in it/high Qcki g; i

- wee-sense new;.11i

2 .1.11 com inetienra support-r,

